Donor Spotlight

Donor Spotlight

Jo Ellen Diehl Yeary | Generosity rooted in pride, remembrance, dedication to home

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Guernsey County Foundation


For information on ways to give to Guernsey County, click here.


The Guernsey County Foundation could be described as a “friend raiser” for charitable funds benefiting Guernsey County. By leading others to open component funds for the county with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.


2023 Annual Report

To view the Guernsey County Foundation’s 2023 annual report, click here.


Grant Opportunities

The Guernsey County Foundation, in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, accepts grant applications annually from nonprofits, schools and public organizations for projects and programs benefiting Guernsey County residents and communities. 2024 grant applications closed on Sept. 10

During each year’s funding cycle, grants are awarded to projects and programs advancing opportunities across five areas, known as our Pillars of Prosperity: arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services. Emphasis is on supporting individuals of all ages who are spearheading efforts that create opportunities, meet pressing needs and unleash the potential within Guernsey County.

Youth-led grant opportunity

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and its 15 foundation affiliate partners are accepting grant applications Aug. 20 through Oct. 1 for projects developed and implemented by youth under age 18. Additional information and the grant application are available here.

FAO has transitioned to a new online system, Spectrum Portal, for grant applications. Before applying for grants, all applicants must register and create an account in the new system. Once registered, click on the “Grant Application” tab and then select “Available Grants,” where you can access the specific grant application form.

For questions, please contact FAO at 740.753.1111 or view the Frequently Asked Questions page.


2023 Grant Recipients

  • Cambridge Area YMCA to purchase equipment for the gymnastics team and classes
  • Cambridge Intermediate School to bring Columbus Zoo animals and animal ambassadors to the school for the End of Year Celebration of Student Achievement
  • Cambridge Intermediate School to help stock the school-wide PAX store and reinforce positive behavior
  • Children’s Advocacy Center of Guernsey County to establish a new program designed to offer comprehensive child sexual abuse prevention training to adults in Guernsey County 
  • Dickens Victorian Village to purchase a sound system for events 
  • East Central Ohio Educational Service Center to purchase books and bookbags for the third annual Family Reading Festival in Guernsey County
  • East Muskingum Local Schools to support the Try Kindness program aimed at fostering a culture of kindness, inclusivity and positive behavior among students, staff and the wider school community
  • Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center to provide nutritional supplement beverages to Guernsey County residents ages 60 and older who are diagnosed with cancer
  • Hospice of Guernsey Inc. to cover the rental costs and supplies for a widows’ bereavement program weekend retreat
  • Naz Café to support its community outreach efforts, including a weekly breakfast that serves individuals experiencing homelessness in Guernsey County
  • Rolling Hills Local Schools to equip a new social-emotional wellness room that will be used by all students
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio to help cover overnight stays for Guernsey County families
  • Society of St. Vincent De Paul Christ Our Light Conference to help offset the costs of training and testing for Guernsey County residents to become certified State Tested Nurse Aides
  • Village of Byesville to support Project Phoenix, providing matching funds for business development efforts and village improvements
  • Village of Senecaville – Betterment Council to support the first phase of park improvements through the construction of a covered pavilion and purchase of picnic tables
  • Cambridge High School to help cover the cost of students’ travel to Columbus to participate in the Ohio Model United Nations Conference
  • The iBELIEVE Foundation to fund the participation of Guernsey County youth in the 2024 iBELIEVE Youth Leadership Workshops

Recent Projects

We are excited to announce the Guernsey County Foundation Family of Funds has over $15M in assets! The Guernsey County Foundation has reached a significant milestone that bodes well for numerous worthwhile entities, and also reflects magnificently on the local spirit of philanthropy.

The Foundation’s trustees gathered recently to celebrate achieving an asset base of $15 million for the benefit of the economic, cultural and educational climate in Guernsey County. This growth is significant. When it began as the Cambridge Foundation in 1988 the Guernsey County Foundation had assets of around $25,000. In 2005, the asset base was about $100,000. In 2007 it reached $1 million.


Guernsey Family of Funds

There are now some 57 members of the Guernsey County Foundation family of funds. All of the funds in the family of funds for Guernsey County have independent advisory boards.

78 funds partnering with the Guernsey County Foundation in service to our community:

  • Guernsey County Foundation
  • Achilles Nicholakis Scholarship Trust Fund*
  • Antrim Community Cemetery Association
  • Endowment Fund
  • Art Clemenson Scholarship*
  • Blaine and Martha Neilley Family Fund
  • Bruce Orahoske Scholarship Fund*
  • Byesville Rotary Christmas Food Basket Fund
  • Byesville Rotary Fund
  • Cambridge Alumni & Friends Educational Fund
  • Cambridge City Schools Foundation Fund
  • Cambridge Singers Scholarship Fund
  • Cecil J. McFarland Science Scholarship*
  • Charles E. Chippi Scholarship Fund
  • Charles E. Jefferson Award*
  • Charles R. Nelson Scholarship Fund*
  • Charles W. and Olive L. Hanna Scholarship Fund*
  • Charleston Memorial Scholarship
  • CHS Class of ‘57 Scholarship Fund
  • Citizens for Rolling Hills Schools Fund
  • Don Coss Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Doug Steele Memorial Scholarship
  • East Guernsey Fine and Performing Arts Fund
  • Elizabeth Burgess Briggs Trust Fund*
  • Erven Trust Fund*
  • Frank & Esther Ricketts Memorial Fund
  • Friends of East Guernsey Education Fund
  • G.D. Agnew Foundation Scholarship Fund
  • George and Mary Ellen Ontko Scholarship Fund
  • Gregory Cardamone Scholarship*
  • Guernsey County Board of Developmental
  • Disabilities Scholarship Fund
  • Guernsey County Drug Coalition Fund – CHOICES
  • Guernsey County Education Assistance Grant Fund
  • Guernsey County Senior Citizen Center
  • Endowment Fund
  • Gulfport Energy Fund
  • Harvey and Edna Ferrier Scholarship Fund*
  • Isaac and Carey Esper Scholarship Fund*
  • James R. Milligan Legacy Fund
  • Jeff & Jane Schumacher Cox Fund
  • Jeff and Jane Schumacher Cox Scholarship Fund
  • Jenny Cornelius-Woltz Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Joe Mowad Memorial Scholarship Fund*
  • John and Rose Dunlavy Scholarship Fund*
  • Kathryn L. Duffey – Baker and Hostetler Scholarship*
  • Kevin Ritz Family Foundation Fund
  • Leadership Guernsey
  • Lester D. and Thelma I. Ellwood
  • Educational Scholarship
  • The Living Word Outdoor Drama Endowment Fund
  • Loran & Shirley Stutz Fund
  • Loran & Shirley Stutz Scholarship Fund
  • Madison High School Alumni Scholarship Fund
  • Mandy McGlumphy Social Work Scholarship
  • Maribeth Wright Community & Economic Development Fund for Appalachian Ohio
  • Maribeth Wright Fund for Guernsey County
  • Mary E. Knauer Scholarship Fund
  • Mary Kackley-Brill Scholarship Fund
  • Mary Moore Scholarship Fund*
  • McGlumphy Family Fund
  • Michael C. Long Legacy Scholarship Fund
  • Miriam Hawes Legacy Endowment Fund
  • Myron Fishel Scholarship Fund
  • Nicolozakes Trucking & Construction, Inc. Environmental Stewardship Fund for
  • Appalachian Ohio
  • Ohio Arts and Crafts Foundation Fund
  • Old Guernsey County Conservation Association Fund
  • Paul Sayanek Scholarship
  • Ralph G. Ferguson Scholarship Fund*
  • Rolling Hills Foundation Scholarship Endowment Fund
  • The Rose Elizabeth Bell MacConkey Scholarship Fund for Women Going into a Career in Business
  • Russel B. Diehl Scholarship*
  • Sara Lee Stevens-Youngs Family Memorial
  • Scottish Rite Valley of Cambridge Endowment Fund
  • The Stemmer Family Foundation Fund
  • Teresa Clark Memorial Scholarship
  • Tostenson Family Foundation Fund
  • United Way of Guernsey, Monroe and Noble Endowment Fund
  • W. Grant Hafley & Patricia J. Hafley Fund
  • Whitney Proctor Scholarship Fund*
  • Winnie Mae Sharpe Education Scholarship Fund
  • Zelma Gray Medical School Scholarship

*This fund is part of Cambridge City Schools Scholarship Funds.


Guernsey Committee Members

  • William Black, Ex Officio
  • Cindy Bond
  • Dave Caldwell
  • Bryan Conaway
  • Matt Dolan
  • Jeff East
  • Hon. David Ellwood, Ex Officio

  • Joel Losego
  • Mandy McGlumphy
  • Jeremy Morrow
  • Dan Padden
  • Rory Stelzer
  • Dave Wilson
  • Maribeth Wright


Support the Guernsey Community

The Guernsey County Foundation receives contributions and bequests of all sizes from individuals, corporations and foundations to assist in the funding of projects and charitable organizations. The Foundation is both a recipient vehicle of financial gifts and a distributor of grants to area organizations that meet established guidelines.

Make a secure online donation to the Guernsey Family of Funds – be sure to name the fund you would like your contribution to be applied to in the Designation box.